Today I’m going to walk you through building a bard character for your Dungeons & Dragons game. Bards are natural entertainers and have the negative reputation of being the most obnoxious class in a party. I think they’re awesome, though.
First and foremost, we will go over proficiencies and starter equipment.
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First, Choose ANY Three Skills You'd Like to Be "Proficient" In!
Remember that your proficiencies are like extra points in a set area. It simply boosts your variety of skills a bit. (I always try to find a way to increase my Perception I’m where able to.)
Perception
Animal Handling
Insight
Medicine
Nature
Religion
Performance
Deception
Investigation
Stealth
Persuasion
Sleight of Hand
Survival
Acrobatics
Arcana
Charisma
History
Intimidation
Then, Understand Your Pre-Determined Proficiencies.
It might help you choose the most effective starter gear to know that, as a bard, you’re automatically proficient in the following:
Tools
- Three Musical Instruments of Your Choice
Savings Throws
- Dexterity
- Charisma
Weapons
- Simple Weapons
- Hand crossbows
- Longswords
- Rapiers
- Short Swords
Equipment
- Light Armor
Now, You Can Choose Your Starter Equipment!
By now you’ve finished marking down your proficiencies on your character sheet. Now it’s time to get your complimentary starter equipment ready.
Choose One of the Following Three Items:
One Rapier
One Long Sword
One Simple Weapon
+ Simple weapons include clubs, daggers, great-clubs, hand-axes, javelins, light hammers, maces, quarter staffs, sickles, spears, light crossbows, darts, short-bows, and slings.
Choose One of the Following Two Items:
A Diplomat's Pack
An Entertainer's Pack
Choose One of the Following Two Items:
A Lute
Any Single Musical Instrument
You Also Get Both of These:
Leather Armor
Dagger
If you’re into meta-gaming, you can use this printable backpack page to keep track of your items as well as their size and weight.
Level One Stats:
#FurtherReading – “How to Build a D&D 5E Character Sheet”
Your level one proficiency bonus for a bard is +2.
You have “bardic inspiration.”
You may choose two cantrips and two level one spells of your choice. At first level you have two spell slots. You do not need to use a spell slot for cantrips.
Now you’re ready to start your adventure! Enjoy!
